TEAM PLAYER MANAGEMENT STYLE

by Lincoln E. Bittner

To be an effective manager, you need to understand the basic styles of management, and when they are or are not appropriate. What follows is one of the most common styles of management, and when it is appropriate to use this style.

What is a Team Player?

A team player is someone who is comfortable working with a group of people who are working together to accomplish a common goal. This style of manager is capable of making those around them forget that they are a manager. This manager is adept at combining the skills and ideas of his/her coworkers together to accomplish a task without anyone realizing that this is what has been done. To be a true ‘team player’, a manager must enjoy the trust and respect of the people he works with. Remember that it is not a manager’s job to direct others, as much as it is a manager’s job to support those who perform the functions of business. Management is the art of accomplishing a task through others.

The Scenario

Mark worked in a factory making metal parts. He did his job well, and he got along well with the people in his department. Management was puzzled by him though, and they began to to discuss him in their staff meetings. Mark was often seen working with someone in his department. It appeared that he was doing his work, and as management investigated further, they found that the reason Mark was always in different work stations was because he was helping that employee figure out how to do something, or he was fixing a small problem. The more they investigated Mark, the more they found that everyone liked and respected him. They really appreciated his help.

Finally Mark's manager approached him. He asked him what was going on. "Nothing special", Mark said. "They just needed some help, and I was available."

After watching Mark set up his machine, the manager discovered that Mark had found a more efficient way to feed the materials into the machine. It required less intervention by him, which left him some free time. He was using that free time to help the others in his department set up their machines to operate in a way that best fit each persons skills. This was the reason he was so well liked. Mark was making their jobs easier, and wasn't telling anybody about what he was doing.

Mark's manager went back to his managers and told them about what he was doing. They offered Mark a promotion to line manager, which he readily accepted. 

Balancing Act

Being a team player, and a manager is a tricky course of action. The positive side of this type of management style is that morale among the employees is good. This type of manager brings a sense of fair play and harmony to the workplace. The employees feel that they are respected, and that their ideas are being considered and included when changes are implemented.

The negative side of this type of management style is that the employees can become too familiar with the manager. If this happens, then the manager has a harder time with tough decisions. The chain of command becomes fuzzy to the employees, and some employees may not take the manager's directions seriously because they see the manager more as a friend than as their manager. If the manager remembers the behaviors that got him promoted, and continues to practice them, his subordinates will listen to his instructions.

Conclusion

This type of management style is the preferred way of managing in most situations. Knowing the positives and negatives can make you more effective in your performance. Remember, you must stay friendly, while keeping some separation between yourself and those that you manage.

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